Dual service heating system



Sept. 16, 1941. o. G. WATT 2,255,956

DUAL SERVICE HEATING SYSTEM Filed June 26, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .93 w II TI -WAY VALVE INVENTOR 0.9a?! (i (0827 BY QM; 1 w

ATTO NEYS Sept. 16, 1941. Q w 2,255,956

DUAL SERVICE HEATING SYSTEM Filed June 26, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2MULTI-WAY VALVE m L; n A

INVENTOR RNEYS Patented Sept. 16, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE2,255,956 DUAL sEavroE HEATING SYSTEM Oscar G. Watt, Tulsa, Okla.

Application June 2 6 1 939, SeriaI'NoJZBL ZSI s cli'iiis.

This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for a heatingsystem, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a doubleor dual servicedomestic hot water supply and house heating system. Thepresent application is a continuation-in-part of my application SerialNo. 216,349, filed June 28, 1938.

In many sections of the country where gas and individual heaters areemployed for home heating purposes, the rooms of the home are usuallyheated by small gas heaters having an open flame. Many disadvantages areincident to this type of heating, in that the gas flame is subject tothe possibility of being blown out by normal circulation of room air,thus endangering the house and its occupants to the hazard of a fire orexplosion, or asphyxiation from gas or carbon monoxide gas fumes.Furthermore, in many sections of the country where natural gas is notabundant, but due to warm climatic conditions, a. costly and bulksomeheating plant is not necessary. And more specifically, in any climate,at certain times of the year such as early spring and late fall, it isdesirous to heat certain rooms of the house such as a bathroom ordressing rooms yet the weather is not cold enough to warrant theoperation of the individual house heating plant. Also at night after thehouse heating plant is shut down, a warm bathroom is often desired.

Furthermore, it has been found that in closed gravity heating systemsheretofore known, utilizing the domestic hot water supply, such as thosedisclosed in the patents to Cowles et al., No. 835,812 and Thompson No.1,240,101, the system can be utilized for supplying either the domestichot water to the plumbing fixtures or the-heating units individually,but none of these systems provide-a single circulating system capable ofa dual service for simultaneously supplying both the heating units anddomestic hot water to a faucet. wherein both services can be utilized atexactly the same time without one service interfering with the other.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide aheating system for home or buiding heating utilizing the domestic hotwater circulating system and equipment supplying the various plumbingfixtures throughout the house for simultaneously supplying hot water toradiators for heating purposes. A

And still another object of the invention is to provide a home heatingsystem that is healthful in that it does not burn up the oxygen in theroom air and is maintained at such a conbe either automatically ormanually controlled.

'And still another object of this invention is to provide a home heatingsystem of closed hot water gravity circulation type employing the sameequipment for the heating radiators that is utilized for supplying hotwater for the various plumbing fixtures of the home, a system thatsupplies heat to the various rooms of a home any time there is hot waterfor the plumbing fixtures, said system being independent of anyauxiliary or additional home heating plant.

And still another object of this invention is to provide a closed systemof home heating by high pressure hot water radiators that has eliminatedmost of the conventional equipment such hot water circulating type thatis simple in design and construction in that it needs less attention foroperation, economical and durable in that there is less equipment topurchase, keep in repair and depreciate.

And still another important object of this invention is to provide asingle hot water circulating system that will perform a dual service ofsupplying circulating hot water to within a few inches of the faucet ofa plumbing fixture of a dwelling, as well as supplying hot water to highpressure radiators as a medium for room heating purposes, said servicescapable of being rendered simultaneously without one service interferingwith the other.

And still an additional object of this invention is to provide a singlesystem of closed hot water circulation that will perform a dual serviceof supplying circulating hot water to within a few inches of theplumbing fixture of a dwelling, as well as supplying hot water toradiators as a medium for air heating purposes, said circulating systemso constructed as to maintain constant circulation and to exhaust anyair in the system or radiators through the regular use of a hot waterfaucet of a plumbing fixture, although the faucet may be located at alower necessity of having may have been standing in the pipes betweenthe tank and provide a system or hot maintain complete and raised toa-higher elevation than the faucet. Other objects and'advantages oftheinvention willbe evident from the following detailed descriptionreadimconhmction with the acco'm panying drawings which illustrate oneform of my invention. I

Inthedrawings: Fig. 1 is a view in broken elevation of the improved dualservice system of hot water I'circulation for domestic hotwater supplyand room to draw any cold water that v a hot water faucet 2c of alavatory 22. a byfaucets, this circulation to continue, although somepoint in the circulating line has been,"

heating. with portions of the structure in which it Jisinstalledinsection. '3. Fig. 2 is a detail view in front elevationshowing the arrangemen of one of the heating units with aplumbingjfixture showing the two-way or transfer valve for controllingthe' supply and 'retumof circulating hot water. v

- Fig.3isatopplanviewofflg.2;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of-a portion of lineinthecircuiatingsystem.

Referring now tothe sponding parts are designated by like numerals ofreference, and more particularly to Fig. 1,

and more particularly the supply;

I tern is free of air.

pass line 24 extends from a side orifice of the valve it intocommunication with a downwardly extending return line 25 dischar i g tothe tank 2 at a point adjacent to the bottom thereof.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that with the valve 16 set inproper position, hot water will circulate by gravity from the top oftank 2 up through the supply pipe l2, to the two-way valve l8 and backthrough the by-pass line 24 and the return line 25 to the bottom of tank2, as long as there is a difference in the temperature of the water inthe pipes l2 and 25, and the sys-' In a closed system (closed toatmosphere) as the present invention, any air that may be present in thesystem will be eliminated by opening the lavatory faucet 20 wherein airwill be forced from the tank up through the pipe l2 and exhausted outthrough faucet 20 to provide a system which will remain free of air bythe regular use of the fixture faucets. In order to utilize. this singlesystem of .closed domestic circulating hot water supply as a means forheating the various rooms of a house,- building or the like, and thusperform a dual service; it is only necessary that a heating meafi's'such as hot water high pressureradiators be added. It is to beunderstood that the transfer valve I6 is installed in the supplyline l2vat :a point at least ashigh as the top of a radiator 26.- In thisarrangement (as clearly shown in Figs.2 and '3), an auiciia'ry. hotwater supply line 28 extends from the valveli into communicationwith-the top of the radiator 26. A return line 3! extends from thebottom of the radiator 26 into communication with the return drawingswherein com-j 40.

reference character 2 indicates a hot water boiler Iortankusuallydisposedinthebasement4ofa home, however, rangement orlocation of the hot water tank 2 can be made according to theconstruction of the building or home with which it is to be utilized.

it will be apparent that any ar'- A city water line 8 communicates withthe city water main (not shown) and the hot water tank 2 for s pplyingcold water at city main pressure, which in most instances varies from 25to l00 pounds per square inch. A valve 8 is interposed in the line 6which in open position allows water to flow through line i where it isdischarged into the tank 2 at a point adjacent to the bottom of thetank. The inflow of cold water continues until the pressure in tank 2and of the pipes of the system to be hereinafter referred to, equals thecity main pressure, thereby producing a high pressure system capable ofa high velocity flow.

;Water discharged in tank 2 may be heated by various means, but thepresent invention discloses a conventional gas fired heater ll arrangedadjacent to tank 2, and communicating therewith by pipes II and I". Withthe heater II heating the water in tank 2, the water is expanded andcauses circulation throughout the system. A thermostat 9 is provided intank 2 for controlling the temperature of the water in the tank. A hotwater supply pipe l2 extends from the top of the tank 2 through floor Mof the building into communication with a two-way or transfer valve Iiline 25 for the tank 2. The valve It may be any conventional type oftwoway transfer valve, however, it is preferable to use a double-seatingvalve having four orifice openings for receiving pipe connections 12,It, 24 and 28. Any rotation of. the valve handle 32 (projecting from thewall) does not affect flow of fluid from supply pipe l2 to supply pipeI! and there will always be circulation to the lavatory faucet 2l|regardless of the position of the valve. However, it

will be apparent that the valve can be rotated to allow discharge of hotwaterintothe pipe 28 for supplying hot water as a heating medium to theradiator 26, simultaneous with .the flow of hot water into the pipe I.With the valve Ii manipulated to supply a heating medium, circulation ofthe hot water is from the pipe l2 through the valve l6, pipe 2!,radiator 2i, pipe 2|, and back to the return line 25 and the tank '2, itbeing understood that with the valve in this position, returncirculation through line 24 is closed. With the valve rotated to cut offthe supply to line 28, return circulation from the faucet 20 is throughlines 24 and 28, therefore assuring that with the valve set in oneextreme positionor the other, return circulation to the tank can only beone way, i. e., either through lines 24 and 25, or through radiator 26and line 30 to line 25, thus preventing the possibility of a shortcircuit in the circulation of the water.

communication with It will likewise be apparent that with any partialrotation of the valve, .fiuid can circulate simultaneously through theline 24 and the radiator 26. In this manner, the valve can be regulatedto determine the supply of circulating hot water to the radiator,whether in whole or in part. This adjustable feature provides selectivecontrol of the heating medium supplied to the radiator, which can bevaried according to climatic conditions. I

The foregoing description has only been concerned with the supply of aheating medium to the radiator 26 for one room of a dwelling,particularly to a bathroom having a lavatory. The present inventiondiscloses the radiator disposed beneath the lavatory, but it will beapparent that the radiator can be disposed anywhere in the room as longas the proper communication is provided between the supply and returnlines,

and the faucet. However, in order to supply hot water to a radiator orradiators arranged in a plurality of rooms in the dwelling, it is onlynecessary to provide auxiliary or branch extensions from the main supplyline l2 and'return line 25.

It will be apparent that with a hot water circulating system obthis,type that; numerous radiators can be located adjacent and below plumbingfixtures-supplied with hot water, and many. arrangements can be madeaccording to the arrangement of the dwelling. However, for purposes ofillustration, the present invention discloses only one arrangement,wherein a T- connection 34 is provided in line 12 and comand pitchesupward into communication with T- fitting 82, communicating with pipe 88through a bushing 8i and jet nipple 81. Any air in the radiator S8 andpipe 88 will be discharged through pipes 80 and i8, and faucet I8, aswill be hereinafter described.

Referring now to the sink i8 and laundry tub 88, it will be noted thatthey are located at a point which makes it necessary or desirable toplace some part of the circulating pipes at a point higher than thefaucets of these fixtures, thus creating a place in the system for theaccumulation of air at the highest elevation of the pipes. Normally, anair pocket would not prevent water from being drawn from a faucet of thefixture, however, such an air pocket would prevent gravity circulationthrough the system when the faucets were close... The manner ofinstalling the auxiliary circulating pipes so as to provide constantcirculation, and likewise prevent any possible accumulation of air insuch sumclent quantity to prevent circulation will now be explained.

municates with the auxiliary supply line 88 supplying hot water to aradiator 38. The radiator 38 is shown disposed in any conventionalfixture Ill, such as a dressing table, cabinet, or the like,

however the radiator may be separately arranged in a room. A controlvalve 82 is interposed in the line 36 controlling the fiow of hot waterto the radiator 38. An auxiliary return line 44 extends from the bottomof the radiator 38 into communication with a connection 48 in the mainreturn line 25. It will be apparent that any air in the supply line 38can be exhausted through the hot water faucet 20.

A second auxiliary supply line 48 extends from T-connection 50 and isprovided with auxiliary or branch lines 52 and 54 extending therefrom.It will be obvious that the supply line 48 can have as many extensionsas are practical, depending upon the number of radiators disposed in thevarious rooms of the building. In the present disclosure, line 48 isplugged at 51 but may be extended if desired. A line 55 extends from aT-connection 86 in line 54 into communication with a control valve 58controlling discharge of hot water to radiator 68. With the valve 58 inopen position, hot water is discharged into the radiator 60 forsupplying a heating medium thereto. A return line 62 providescommunication from the bottom of the radiator 80 to an auxiliary returnline 84 communicating with the main return line 25. Line 64 can have asmany extensions as desired. Hot water flowing in line 52 passes intopipes 66, 88 and 18 and into communication with a T-iltting 12, where anauxiliary line II provides communication with a hot water faucet ii of aplumbing fixture 18. Line 18 extends downwardly from the T-fitting 12into communication with a hot water faucet 86 of a laundry tub orfixture 88. A line 90 provides a connection between faucet 86 and aT-fitting 99 communicating with the tank 2 to complete the circuit. Itwill be apparent that the line 88 acts as a return line.

Alluding further to the radiator 88, it will be noted that it isdisposed in a remote position from the plumbing fixture, and in order torelieve air from the radiator 88 and its supply pipe 54, a. line 88(preferably a 'small metallic tube) extends from the high point of aT-fltting I6,

The faucet 18 is in communication with the top and bottom of tank 2through pipes I 2, 48, i2, 86, 68, I0, 98 and 25, thus providing acomplete circulation of hot water to and from the tank. A check valve IIis provided to prevent a backward flow when faucet I8 is opened. It willbe noted that most of. the supply lines feeding the quick opening faucetI6 are of higher disposition than the faucet. In order to safeguardagainst a possible air lock in the auxiliary supply lines 52 and 18, twohorizontally connecting lines 86 and 68 are arranged in floor 98providing communication between lines 52 and 10. By properly sizing thepipes 66 and 68 in relation to the delivery capacity of pipe Ill andfaucet I6, a sufficiently high velocity of water can be had throughthese pipes to force out all air in the pipes upon opening the faucet.In a closed system, high pressure water pipes do not accumulate much aironce they are freedof air. The use of two smaller connecting pipes 68and 88 instead of one horizontal pipe of the same capacity as pipe Ill,divides the horizontal flow of hot water the higher conduit 68 willserve as a containerof air for any period of time when the faucet I8 isnot being used, while the lower pipe 68 continues to act as acirculating pipe for hot water by constantly maintaining a water filledcircuit. It has been found in practice that a very small circulatingpipe will pass enough water (even at a low velocity) to keep all supplylines sufilciently hot, although the total carrying capacity of thesupply lines is much greater than the capacity of one small circulatingpipe.

Refen'ing to Fig. 4, it is to be noted that the arrangement of pipes 66and 68 is such that there will be a greater fluid flow, and at a highervelocity, through pipe 8 than through pipe 68 when faucet I6 is opeii.This is accomplished by connecting pipe 88 directly into the top ofauxiliary supply pipes 52 and 18, thereby requiring only two right angleturns between the upward flow in 52, and the downward flow in II. Thepipe 68 is interposed between the pipes 52 and 10 by the T-fittings 92,92, elbows 86 and 98, thus creating more friction due to the increasednumber of turns. In the present instance, four turns are necessary forpipe 88, as compared with two for pipe 86. Water flowing through supplyline 52 at a high velocity will have a tendency to flow in a straightline through T-fltting 82 and on to fitting as, du'e to the increasedfrictional resistance of the T-fitting 92 and elbow 80.

Alluding further to the pipe 80 for exhausting air from radiator 60 andsupply line H, the pipe 80 contains in addition to the air to beexhausted, water at city main pressure, and will therefore discharge asmall amount of water through the jet nipple 61 and bushing 8| intothepipe 68 each time the faucet I6 is opened. The Jet 61 increases thevelocity of water flowing from pipes 52 and 80 into pipe 6, in order toassist in exhausting any air accumulation at the high point of thesystem. It will ,be apparent that any number of radiators can have airexhausted by means of an exhaust line similar to pipe 80 connected to ajet nipple as shown in Fig. 4. It will thus be obvious that with thepipe 66 serving as a container for air, the

quickly exhausts any air in pipe '86" upon opening the faucet 16,.However,

pipe 68 has suflicient capacity to provide ample circulation of hotwater to faucet l6, and the foregoing arrangement assures a constantcirculation to faucet It, as well as means for relieving any air in thesystem. It will be obvious that faucet as can likewise be utilized tofree the system of air. i y

The expansion of water in tank 2 when heated is provided for by theregular use of the hot water throughout the system. Howeve if 1 no 2. Animproved dual service system of hot water circulation comprising aboiler, a plumbing fixture. a supply line connecting the boiler with theplumbing fixture, a control valve interposed in the supply line, areturn line between the valve and the boiler providing circulation ofthe water, a t radiator, a first pipe connecting the radiator to thevalve, a second pipe connecting the radiator to said return line,auxiliary radiators, piping connecting the supply line and the returnline respectively with the auxiliary radiators, and means operativelyconnected with high velocity throughjl created by the jet 61, as well asthe fiF-fitting i9,

it is understood that water is drawn from the faucets during the timethe water. in the tank is being heated, the ex-; pansion is-received bythe city water main as long as the valve 8 is open. In case the valve 8should be closed during the time water is being heated, I

and no water is drawn from faucets, the line is provided with a safetyvalve I02 for relieving any excess pressure due to expansion. The pipelli is provided with a drain valve I08. I

From. the foregoing, it will'be apparent that the invention provides asingle system of hot {water circulation capable of performing the dualsaid piping and return line for discharging air therefrom, said meansincluding a pair of pipes so constructed and arranged as to assureconstant circulation of the water throughout the system.

improved dual service system of hot water circulation comprising aboiler, a plumbing fixture, a supply line connecting the boiler with theplumbing fixture, a control valve interposed in the s pply line, areturn line between the valveand theboiler providing circulation of thewater, a first radiator, a first pipe connecting the radiator to thevalve, a second pipe connectin the radiator to said return line.auxiliary radiators, piping connecting the supply line. and the returnline respectively with the auxiliary radiators, means operativelyconnected with said piping and return .line for discharging airtherefrom, said means including a pair of parallel pipes so constructedand arranged as to assure constant circulation of the water throughoutthe syste 4. An improved dual service system of hot water circulationcomprising a boiler, a faucet, a supplyfline connecting the boiler withthe faucet, a multi-way valve interposed in said line,

a return line connecting the valve with the boiler to providecirculation of the water, a' radiator,

I apipe for leading water from the valve to the Changes may be made inthe combination and 4 arrangement of parts as heretofore set forth inthe specifications and shown in the drawings, it being understood thatany modification in the precise embodiment of the invention may be madewithin the scope of the following claims without departingfrom the tion.

What I claim is:

1. In a closed gravity circulating system of hot water comprising atank, hot water supply lines communicating with the tank and a pluralityof plumbing fixtures, return lines from the plumbing fixtures to thetank, means comprising a pair of pipes interposed in. the supply linesat a point higher than any plumbing fixture for dividing the fiow of hotwater into two channels, said spirit of the invenpipes so constructedand arranged to assure con-' stant circulation of water throughout thesystem.

radiator, and another pipe for leading water from I the radiator to thereturn line.

5. An improved dual service system of hot water circulation comprising aboiler, a faucet, a supply line connecting the boiler with the faucet, amultl-way valve interposed in said line,,a return line connecting thevalve with the boiler to provide circulation of the water, a radiator, apipe for leading water from the valve to the radiator, another pipe forleading water from the radiator tothe return line, an auxiliaryradiator,

-',a pipe connecting the supply line with the auxiliary radiator, andanother pipe connecting the radiator with the return line.

6. An improved dual service system of hot water circulation comprising aboiler, a faucet, a supply line connecting the boiler with the faucet, amulti-way valve interposed in said line, a return line connecting thevalve with the boiler to provide circulation of the water, a radiator, a

pipe for leading water from the valve to the radiator, another pipe forleading water from the radiator to the return line, auxiliary pipingconnected to the supply and return lines andforming an auxiliary circuitfor the circulation of water, said piping including a pair of parallelpipes to allow water from the supply line to flow simultaneously inplural paths to the return line.

7. An improved dual service system for hot water circulation comprisinga boiler, a faucet, a

supply line connecting the boiler with the faucet,

a multi-way valve interposed in said line, a return line connecting thevalve with the boiler to provide circulation of the water. a radiator. a

pipe for leading water from the valve to the radiator, another pipe forleading water from the radiator to the return line, auxiliary pipingconnected to the supply and return lines and forming an auxiliarycircuit for the circulation of water, said piping including a pair ofparallel 5 pipes to allow water from the supply line to flowsimultaneously in plural paths to the return line, and a radiatorinterposed in the auxiliary piping.

8. An improved dual service system for hot water circulation comprisinga boiler, a faucet, a supply line connecting the boiler with the faucet,a multi-way valve interposed in said line, a return line connecting thevalve with the boiler to provide circulation oi the water, a radiator, apipe for leading water from the valve to the radiator, another pipe forleading water from the radiator to the return line, auxiliary pipingconnected to the supply and return lines and forming an auxiliarycircuit for the circulation of water, said piping including a pair ofparallel pipes to allow water from the supply line to flowsimultaneously in plural paths to the return line,

10 and a faucet interposed in the auxiliary piping.

OSCAR G. WATT.

